The Bible – why I read it and how I do it

Written by Lena Leitner

When listening to a podcast series about the Bible I was reminded of how powerful the Bible is. It is God’s word and when God speaks a word, it happens – it blows my mind the more I think about it.

This is why I read the Bible:

I believe that God connects with me through the Bible and equips me with everything that I need to live my life in the way that honors him (2 Tim 3:16-17). I need God’s word just as I need food every day to stay healthy and strong.

2 Timothy 3:16-17 (ESV) 16 All Scripture is breathed out by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, and for training in righteousness, 17 that the man of God may be complete, equipped for every good work.

And this is how I read the Bible

I don’t get much out of the Bible if I read it like a book. I keep asking God to show me what he wants to teach me right now and that this would go deep and change my thoughts and actions. For example, when reading Corinthians a few weeks ago, 2 Cor 5:18-20 made me stop and think: God has called us to be “ambassadors for Christ”.

2 Corinthians 5:18-20 (ESV) 18 All this is from God, who through Christ reconciled us to himself and gave us the ministry of reconciliation; 19 that is, in Christ God was reconciling the world to himself, not counting their trespasses against them, and entrusting to us the message of reconciliation. 20 Therefore, we are ambassadors for Christ, God making his appeal through us. We implore you on behalf of Christ, be reconciled to God.

This encouraged me to seek opportunities for having God-chats with non-Christian friends and colleagues. I didn’t worry so much about all the passages in Corinthians that I didn’t understand but kept going back to that one passage because I knew I needed this wonderful truth to sink in. When God speaks to me through the Bible it’s not always pleasant – or as a good friend of mine once said – it can be like “God’s word punching me in the face”. But I rather be punched in the face than not feeling touched by anything when reading the Bible, because God uses these punches to help me getting out of destructive patterns in my thoughts and actions and make space for his joy and peace.

Some steps that have helped me to stay motivated to read the Bible:

• Remember, it’s not just a book but God’s word – awesome and powerful!
• Follow a Bible reading plan together with friends or your connect group: it really helps to make you take time and read.
• Take note of the passages that touch your heart, reflect on them and share them with your connect group/friends: let’s not forget the treasures that God has revealed to us and let’s act on them!